Rock isn’t dead — it’s just scrappier, rawer, and a little more bruised. That’s the spirit behind Sunday Afternoon, the latest single from Reverse Pathogen, aka multihyphenate Clayton Thomas. Born from memories of his grandfather’s eternal loyalty to the Cleveland Browns, the track is part football ode, part underdog anthem, and entirely defiant in a music world obsessed with polish.

We sat down with Thomas to talk about how hip hop shaped his rhythm, why Josh Freese is “the greatest drummer alive,” and why imperfection is the only authenticity rock has left.

You started in hip hop, working with artists like Lil Uzi and Future. How does that world still shape the way you write rock songs today?
Honestly, it doesn’t. If anything, hip hop taught me what I don’t want to do — like sterilizing my music just to fit trends about money, drugs, or women. Rock lets me write the way I always wanted. The only thing I carried over is a stronger sense of rhythm than a lot of rock artists.

“Sunday Afternoon” feels like both a football song and a life anthem. What first sparked it?
It came from something my grandfather used to say about wasting his whole week waiting for the Browns. That mix of hope, frustration, and ritual stuck with me — it’s bigger than football, it’s about how we invest ourselves in things that keep us going.

You brought in Josh Freese, who’s drummed for everyone from the Foo Fighters to Devo. What did his energy bring to the track?
Josh is the greatest drummer alive, in my opinion. He locks in instantly — one listen and he’s ready with ideas. You don’t really have to direct him. He’s like a human drum machine, but with soul. I don’t think he gets enough credit for how good he really is.

Your last album, Accidentally Fetishized, was bold and unapologetic. How does “Sunday Afternoon” connect or diverge from that creative arc?
Every album I do sounds different. Accidentally Fetishized was more rooted in reality, while this new project leans into fantasy — songs that blur the line between real life and imagination. It’s like Stephen King writing both Stand By Me and horror stories. Different genres, same writer.

Reverse Pathogen feels like a reaction against the “sterilization of modern music.” What does authentic rock look like in 2025?
For me, it looks like imperfection — raw edges, flaws left in on purpose. If you want a name, sure, bands like The Libertines come to mind. But really, Reverse Pathogen is my answer to what I think rock should be.

Reverse Pathogen leans into imperfection — what’s the last “mistake” you deliberately kept in a track?
Honestly, everything. My vocals aren’t tuned, nothing’s quantized. On one track I accidentally left two basslines in — but it sounded cool, so it stayed. That’s what makes it feel alive.

You’ve framed “Sunday Afternoon” as not just about football but about artists and dreamers who keep showing up. Who are some underdogs you’re cheering for right now?
Reverse Pathogen.

If “Sunday Afternoon” soundtracked a sports highlight reel, whose ultimate underdog moment would you want it paired with?
The Cleveland Browns.

And finally: are you still a Browns fan, or has LA converted you to the Rams?
Still a Browns fan, no chance that’s changing.

👉 Check out Sunday Afternoon below and stream it wherever you listen to music.